Participation of rural women in agriculture and livestock sector in Etawah district

Rural women play a key role in agricultural sector production by working with full passion in production of crops right from the soil preparation till post harvest and food security activities (Habib, 1996; ESCAP, 1996; Ahmed & Hussain, 1986). The caste system in India separated into economic and social strata by birth. The rigid hierarchy remained largely in place for many countries, despite periodic challenges from social and religious reform movements. The study was purposively conducted in Takha block of Etawah district (U.P.) on the ground of being a major rice growing area and livestock areas. Four villages were randomly selected from the village list of the block for the study. In Agriculture activities related that as compare to women, man average contribution was more (58.50%) out of 14 agricultural activities and women contribution was (41.50%) and Social & decision power activities that as compare to women, average contribution of man was very high (90.60%) and women contribution was very low (9.40%) but in Livestock activities as compare to man, women average contribution was more (56.25%) out of 8 livestock activities and man contribution was (43.75%). Livestock production is largely in the hands of women. India is an agriculture based country and livestock sector is an integral component of it where, livestock production is largely in the hands of women. Most of the animal farming activities such as fodder collection, feeding, watering, and health care, management, milking and household-level processing, value addition and marketing are performed by women. S.J. Patel et.al. (2016)